Advanced Workshop with Ferne Jacobs

This workshop will be for anyone who has taken a workshop with Ferne previously.  Those who have learned off-loom fiber techniques from other teachers and are not expecting to learn any new technique are also welcome.  The intention is for students to be working on a piece in progress or wanting to start one from scratch with an idea already in mind,

Ferne will work with students for the day, teaching more about design and advancing the skills from various off loom techniques the students have already learned.  Basic technique will not be taught.  Discussion and exploration of the creative process, design and development of forms will be the focus, expanding the technical knowledge already gained.

Students will provide their own materials.

The workshop fee is $125.00. Limit of 12 students.

The health and safety of our visitors and staff is our top priority. We request that everyone wear a face mask when inside the museum.

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Frame loom weaving workshop with Lesley Kice Nishigawara

Learn how to weave on a frame loom, a small portable way to weave. The frame loom is used by artist Sheila Hicks to create her small Minime weavings. This workshop will take participants through the process of weaving on a frame loom including setting up the loom (warping), weaving with several weave structures, tapestry weaving to create images and/or patterns, and finishing a weaving.

Workshop fee is $100. Looms and tools for weaving are included in the fee; participants can take home a loom with them after the workshop. Yarn will be available to use, although participants are encouraged to also bring unconventional materials to weave. Students will need to bring their own scissors.

Twining workshop with Ferne Jacobs

Explore the technique of twining, which is a weaving technique that can be done in one’s lap, not requiring a loom.  Twining relates to weaving in that it involves the twining of horizontal threads through a vertical warp.  Two and three dimensional projects are possible.

Students who have taken the coiling class and are currently working on a coiling project, and would like to learn how to add twining, are welcome as well.  You will be asked to learn the basic technique in the morning, but in the afternoon the focus can shift.  (If you are going to do this, bring a quantity of material that you are using for the coiling part).

Ferne will emphasize the creative process and potential for innovation.

The workshop fee is $150.00, which includes the warp for all students. 12 student limit.

Students are requested to bring the following: 

• Needles (options: medium tapestry, curved, repair; no fine sewing needles).
• Any of the following: Weaving and knitting yarns, waxed linen thread (7 ply), soft cords: these materials will be the ones that will be seen. They will totally cover the warp.
• Good sharp scissors

The health and safety of our visitors and staff is our top priority. We request that everyone wear a face mask when inside the museum.

Backstrap weaving workshop with Lesley Kice Nishigawara

The backstrap loom is a portable loom where the warp (yarn) is stretched between two sticks. Tension is held on the loom with the weaver’s body weight. The backstrap loom has been used in many cultures historically and is still used today. Participants will learn how to set up a backstrap loom, create string heddles to lift the thread and weave on a backstrap loom with plain weave and supplemental weft patterns. This workshop is physically demanding as participants will use their own body weight to create tension and should be considered when signing up for the workshop. 

Workshop fee is $175. The price of the workshop includes a backstrap loom, tools for weaving and yarn to create a weaving. Students will need to bring their own scissors.

Professional Practices Seminar with Mary Little #2

Mary Little is an independent artist who works directly with collectors, interior designers, and art advisors. Her main avenue for marketing and engagement with her clients is through social media and direct email marketing.

In this two-hour seminar Mary will focus on building engagement with interior designers. She will cover:

• Why you would work with designers
• How to find and select designers to engage with
• How to make relationships with them using social media and email marketing
• Websites that work for artists and their audiences
• Keeping records of your plans, contacts, and inquiries

Mary will share some of her resources that will help you carry out the above and others to help you build and grow your practice/art business.

If you are wanting to build or increase sales of your work and develop this side of your artist practice, consider coming to this seminar.

The seminar is $25 and limited to 22 participants. The event is now sold out, please email rsvp@craftinamerica.org to be put on a waiting list.

Mary Little Bio:

Mary Little, born in Northern Ireland, is a Los Angeles-based artist and sculptor. Her primary medium is unbleached artist canvas which references her early career as a furniture designer. Moving to Los Angeles in 2014 with a handful of contacts, she’s grown her artistic practice and income by employing tactics she developed as a designer and small business owner.

Little had a solo exhibition at Craft in America Center in 2018 and her work has been shown internationally at the Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, the Textile Museum, Washington D.C. and Übersee-Museum, Bremen, Germany. Her furniture is in the permanent collections of the Vitra Design Museum in Basel, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, and Victoria & Albert Museum, London and in private collections in Europe and North America. Her work has been reviewed in Fabrik, The New York Times, Luxe magazine and Architectural Digest.

Hmong Paj Ntaub Embroidery Workshop with Mandora Young

Learn how to make a basic Hmong paj ntaub needle work pattern. Paj ntaub (“pan dow”— flower cloth) is an integral part of the Hmong culture. This traditional needlework or cloth embroidery dates back several centuries and is an art form of creating patterns and designs with thousands of needle strokes on a piece of cloth. The compositions usually incorporate motifs symbolizing family clan, nature, or folklore.  The workshop fee is $55 with a capacity of 15 students.

About the Artist:

Mandora Young (b. 1972, Vientiane, Laos) is a Hmong artist and educator specializing in traditional Paj Ntaub (“flower cloth”) textiles. Young first learned this traditional needlework technique from her grandmother and practiced it as a child. In 1979, following the Laotian Civil War, Young and her family immigrated to the United States, and she became a U.S. citizen in 1999. After taking time away from her creative pursuits to raise her children, she returned to Paj Ntaub as an adult and discovered a lack of classes and interest among her community. In 2018, in an effort to revive and maintain this essential part of Hmong cultural identity, Young began teaching her own class. She now teaches many classes and workshops for all ages at libraries and schools, welcoming both Hmong and non-Hmong community members into her classes. Young is committed to passing down the Paj Ntaub cloth embroidery techniques as well as conveying the significance and history of the art form.

We require everyone to wear a face mask when inside the museum.

Professional Practices Seminar with Mary Little

This workshop will repeat on May 6, 2023. Find out more here.

Mary Little is an independent artist who works directly with collectors, interior designers, and art advisors. Her main avenue for marketing and engagement with her clients is through social media and direct email marketing.

In this one-hour seminar Mary will focus on building engagement with interior designers. She will cover:

• Why you would work with designers
• How to find and select designers to engage with
• How to make relationships with them using social media and email marketing
• Websites that work for artists and their audiences
• Keeping records of your plans, contacts, and inquiries

Mary will share some of her resources that will help you carry out the above and others to help you build and grow your practice/art business.

If you are wanting to build or increase sales of your work and develop this side of your artist practice, consider coming to this seminar.

The workshop has been sold out. Please email rsvp@craftinamerica.org if you would like to be on a waiting list.

Mary Little Bio:

Mary Little, born in Northern Ireland, is a Los Angeles-based artist and sculptor. Her primary medium is unbleached artist canvas which references her early career as a furniture designer. Moving to Los Angeles in 2014 with a handful of contacts, she’s grown her artistic practice and income by employing tactics she developed as a designer and small business owner.

Little had a solo exhibition at Craft in America Center in 2018 and her work has been shown internationally at the Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, the Textile Museum, Washington D.C. and Übersee-Museum, Bremen, Germany. Her furniture is in the permanent collections of the Vitra Design Museum in Basel, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, and Victoria & Albert Museum, London and in private collections in Europe and North America. Her work has been reviewed in Fabrik, The New York Times, Luxe magazine and Architectural Digest.

Coiling, Knotting, and Twining Workshop with Ferne Jacobs

Back by popular demand, artist Ferne Jacobs will be facilitating an all day coiling, knotting, and twining workshop. Renowned for her exploration of this technique, Jacobs will emphasize the creative process and potential for innovation. Class attendees can expect a guided beginning coiling knotting, and twinning course, lasting about 6 hours. Class is $155 with materials included.

SOLD OUT

The health and safety of our visitors and staff is our top priority. All attendees age 12 and older will need to show proof of full vaccination. No exceptions. We also require everyone to wear a face mask when inside the museum.

Collage Family Day

Bring the whole family in to enjoy activities based on our exhibition Building the Essentials: Ferne Jacobs. Visitors will make their own collages inspired by Ferne Jacobs’ never-before-seen collages on view at the Craft in America Center.

This event is free and open to the public from 12:30pm – 4:30pm on Saturday, June 11. Materials will be provided. To RSVP for this event please email rsvp@craftinamerica.org. Space is limited.

Assemblage Workshop with Tibbie Dunbar

Join us for an artist workshop with assemblage/collage artist Tibbie Dunbar on Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 12pm–2pm PST at the Craft in America Center.

Before the workshop, participants should select and bring enticing plastic debris from recycling. These found objects will be used for assembling into small sculptures. Participants can also bring in found plastic from the street, beach etc.

Cost: $12

Class limited to 14 participants and preregistration is required. This workshop is for ages 12 and up.

RSVP at rsvp@craftinamerica.org

This talk is presented in conjunction with the Craft in America Center exhibition, Tibbie Dunbar: Assemble, on view from June 25, 2022–September 10, 2022.